Women in Mathematics

by Lynn M. Osen

Mathematicians, science historians, and general readers will find this book a lively history; women will find it a reminder of a proud tradition and a challenge to take their rightful place in academic life today.

The colorful lives of these women, who often traveled in the most avant-garde circles of their day, are presented in fascinating detail. The obstacles and censures that were also a part of their lives are a sobering reminder of the bias against women still present in this and other fields of academic endeavor. Mathematicians, science historians, and general readers will find this book a lively history; women will find it a reminder of a proud tradition and a challenge to take their rightful place in academic life today.

Genres: Mathematics, History, Biography, Nonfiction, Education, History Of Science, Science

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 1975

Reviews

[Delaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even if you ignore the 50 year old white feminism (the author manages to frequently insult the women she is writing about and supposedly praising???), the writing just isn't good. It's kind of all over the place, it's like the author couldn't decide what she wanted to focus the biographical information on. And there is basically zero explanation of the mathematics mentioned or explanation as to why the things these women did were actually important. You have to actually be a mathematician to get that part.
So, this was a let down. Next time I'll just reread Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World.

[Willem Hoekstra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sterk gedateerd en met een lage informatiedichtheid.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Women in Mathematics isn't quite the book I wanted it to be. Written in the 70s, it's fairly dated and Western-centric, and I'm sure there are some non-European women in math history who would have been highlighted had this been written today. The writing's also stilted and occasionally bad (see: "Her education had been a rather desultory one, mostly self-directed, quite haphazard and scant." Please remove some adjectives.)

But on the positive side, the women highlighted are all heroes for doing the work they did when they did it. From Hypatia, who was martyred by ignorant Christians afraid of her new ideas, to the Marquise de Châtelet, who translated Newton into French and provided intelligent commentary, to Mary Fairfax Somerville, who studied Euclid at night despite her family confiscating her candles, these women's determination is admirable. And although her contributions were primarily in astronomy, Caroline Herschel is awesome. A moon crater is named after her!

But my recommendation is to just read the wikipedia articles on these pioneers, as they're probably more enjoyable to read than this book.

[Mohammed Ghaïth · Rating 3 out of 5]

In our statisticized and computerized world, mathematical illiteracy effectively blocks one not only from an understanding of the physical sciences but also from substantial portions of current literature in many other disciplines.

This book was not that sufficient! As someone who studied mathematics, I have never really thought that women could have contributed anything to the field. What I read was eye-opening, and also shocking! For, why were women so underrated, neglected, and even taken the rightful need for education?
I am truly amazed at how strong the women cited in this book were... Perhaps, not Mme du Châtelet!
Nevertheless, the book dealt with women from Italy, France, Germany, Scotland, and Russia... Weren't there women mathematician from other parts of the world along the Human history?

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una lectura amena e inspiracional (he tenido que agregar varias heroínas a mi lista personal). Impresionante cuanto han tenido que luchar las mujeres por su lugar en las matemáticas.

[Kristin Lieber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice slim novel contains biographies of Hypatia, Maria Agnesi, Emilie de Breteuil, Caroline Herschel, Sophie Germain, Mary Fairfax Somerville, Sonya Corvin-Krukovsky Kovalevsky, and Emmy Noether.

A good resource should you be looking for positive role models for women and girls. Written from a well-balanced feminist perspective that does not gloss over, nor focus exclusively on, the barriers these women faced in the academic mathematical community. Contains more theory and mathematical "meat" than many biographies.

Written in the 70s, the language is understandably a bit dated.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a good introduction to the subject of women in mathematics. The biographies are short, and include both mathematical accomplishments as well as interesting information about personal lives.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-researched articles about a variety of women mathematicians.